Shingle-staining machine and process of staining



, Get. 26, 1926.

C. A. LATIMER SHINGLE STAINING MACHINE AND PROCESS OF STANING Filed Dec. 19 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hin/5mm@ CHARLEALA TIP/LEF? I "2 \J I Oct. 26, 1926. @94,230

C. A. LATIMER SHINGLE STAINING MACHINE AND PROCESS OF STAINING Filed Deo. 19, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 /NVENTUR Ulf-[AELE 5A LA TIMER' Patented Oct. 26, 1925.

CHARLES A. LATIIVIER, F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SHINGLE-STAINING MACHINE .AND PROCESS OF STAINING.

Application filed December My invention has for its object to provide a process of producing an exceedingly durable stain on articles of Wood particularly shingles, that is regulable as to its duration, whereby shingles may be stained to a depth according to the durability of the shingle itself Which is dependable largely on the character of the Wood from Which the shingle is formed. In the process involved in my inventiomthe shingles or other articles of Wood may be rapidly stained and the process provides for handling the stain at a very loW cost and involves the use of a comparatively small amount of stain. The invention also involves the apparatus Wherein the process may be conducted to rapidly stain shingles at a very low cost.

The invention may be contained in processes and machines or apparatuses which vary in their details. To illustrate a practical application of the invention I have selected a process as an example of such processes and shall describe it hereinafter, together with an apparatus in Which the process may be conducted. The apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawings and is also described hereinafter.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a longitudinal section through the apparatus in Which the process is conducted. Fig. 2 is an endv view of the apparatus shown in F ig. 1. j

In the process involving the use of my invention, the stain is forced into the Wooden articles by subjecting the stain in which the r articles are submerged to a pressure that may be regulated as to amount and as to duration of time and in order that the Wooden articles7 such as, the shingles, may be handled Without injury to the stained surfaces, immediately as the stain is Withdrawn.` A vacuous condition is created by Withdrawal of the stain from a sealed container having suitable adjusting limiting or sealingV valves wherebyl the shingles or other articles of.

Wood may be removed from the container shortly after or substantially upon the Withdrawal of the stain from the shingles. This may be accomplished by the apparatus shown in the figures. The apparatus is provided With a stain box lwvhich is supported on a frame 2, it being provided With suitable cross bars 3 for withstanding the pressure to which the surfaces of the box are subjected. The box may be provided with a track 4 `for supporting a `.trucker 'frameor rack 5 19, 1925. Serial No. 76,399.

on which the shingles 6 may be piled in any numbers Within the limitations of the box and preferably with their surfaces in vertical planes. The rack may be slid on to the track 4 which may be if desired provided with rollers or any other suitable means which Will enable the rack 5 to be readily slid into the box. The boX 1 is preferably yo f a size sufficient tional room besides that which is occupied by the rack 5 and its load of shingles. rIhe end of the boX 1 is closed by means of a vat 10 formed in a casting 13 that is secured to the end of the boX 1. The channel 12 may be provided With suitable packing 14 anda threaded ivheel 15 operates upon a screw 16 to force the gate 10 so that the flange ill jvill be tightly pressed against the packing in the channel of the casting 13. The Wheel 15 is rotatably7 secured in a plate 17 that may be hinged to the casting 13 or to the supporting frame 2. In order to open the gate 10 a pin or pintel 1S may be removed, When the screw 16 has been released by rotation of the Wheel 15, and the gate 10 and the plate 17 may be rotated on the other pintel such as the pintel 19 of thel hinge. The rack 5 may then be inserted endvvise into the box 1. The stain may then be int-roduced into the box 1 for staining the load on the rack.`

The stain is normally contained in the vat 20. An agitator 21 may be located in the bottom of the vat. It consists of a paddle 22, a shaft 23 having bearings in the top and bottom of the vat, and a handle 24 that may be oscillated back and forth to cause the material to be agitated particularly at the bottom to maintain a substantially uniform mixture of the oils and paints, etc., that makeup the stain. A pipe 25 extends' to the bottom'of the vat, its inlet being pro vided With a suitable strainer 26. A pump 27 is connected to the pipe 25 and operates to draw the stain from the vat. The pump 2T delivers the stain to the'container 1 vthrough the pipe 28, which has its outlet preferably at the bottom of the staining box 1. The stain .may then be forced into the bott-om of the container 1. The pump is also preferably a reversible pump Whereby vthe stain may be drawn from the stain box 1 and directed through the pipe 25 into the vat 20. In order to prevent sawdust or other materials from entering the pump and the vata- .strainer 29 islocated at the to have very little addi- Cal moved.

point of connection Ybetween the pipe 28 and the bottom of the staining box I. The stain ing box l may thus be completely filled with the stain and emptied by the operations of the pump.

The stain is preferably forced into the box l under pressure until the box is completely filled. The pump is operated unt-il the stain is forced by a valve 32. The valve 32 is spring pressed, by means of the spring 33, on its seat 34, The pressure of the spring 33 is adjusted by means of the handle 35 which has a threaded shank 36. The pressure of the spring 33 is regulated preferably from seven to twenty pounds of pressure per square inch so that when the pressure within the box l exceeds the predetermined amount as limited by the adjustment of the spring 33, the stain will till the box l and will eventually pass through the valve seat 34 inte the pipe 37 and return to the vat 20. If desired the valve 32 may be opened while the pump is operating to fill the box l until the stain flows into the vat 20 from the pipe 37 whereupon the adjustment of the pressure of the spring 33 may be made by rotation of the handle 35. When the pressure produced within the box has raised sufficient to cause the flow of the stain through the valve seat 34, according to the adjustment of the pressure of the valve, the pump is reversed to withdraw the stain from the box l and return it to the vat 20. This is preferably done immediately, and as soon as the vat has been emptied, against the back pressure of the atmosphere, the shingles will be in condition for removal since they will be completely dried by the vacuous condition which is created by the withdrawal of the stain.

The vacuous condition within the box l may be adjusted by means of an inlet valve 40 which is spring pressed by means of the spring 41 which is adjusted by means of the handle 42 having a threaded shanlr` 43. As the level of the stain lowers in the container l the vacuous condition above the surface of the stain will be maintained at substantially a constant pressure, a pressure that is below that of the atmosphere, which is controlled by the adjustment of the tension of the spring 4l. By the time that the .level of the stain has receded from the shingles, the box may be opened and the shingles re- Preferably the stain is quite completely removed from the box l the box is opened and the shingles removed. In order that 'the gate l0 may be readily opened, I have provided a valve 45 which may be easily opened to allow freemoveiiientl of the air -into vthe box l to relieve the excess external pressure on the door. The wheel 15 may then be rotated and the door-10 may be opened. The raclt tgether with its :load may be drawn from the box and 'another 10a-dee raak may te immensely asserted,

the gate l0 closed, the vpump started, and reversed and so on continuously. Thus shingles may be stained rapidly and efficiently and to any desired depth.

The depth of the stain of the shingles will depend upon the degree of liquefaction of the pigment and upon the pressure to which it is subjected. This depth will also depend upon the character of wood of which the shingles are formed. Preferably, the depth of the 'stain is controlled according to the Ydurability of the shingles. If the wood of the shingles is such that the life of the shingle will be greater, the stain will be caused to penetrate accordingly. This pron vides for the saving of the stain and en ables a charge for the shingles according to the life of the wood taken in 'conjunction with the added life by reason of the vstain of the shingle. Thus the life of the shingle as a whole is greatly extended and the amount of stain utilized may be controlled according to the life of the shingle as a whole. The invention thus provides for a very exact control of the stain, both as to cost of the stain to produce the maximum results or to produce the exact results that may be desired according to the character of the wood.

In order that the pump 27 may be readily operated, it is driven by means of a suitable motor 47 having a reversing clutch 48 that may Abe actuated by means of a lever 49 to reverse `the operations of the pump in the manner well known in the art.

I claim:

l. In an apparatus for staining shingles and the like a staining box for containing the shingles, a vat for containing the stain, a pipe connecting the upper end of the box with the vat and having a spring-pressed outlet valve located in the pipe, a pump, a pair ofpipes, one for connecting the pump to the lower end of the box and the other for connecting the pump with the vat, the pump operating to draw the stain from the vat and force it into the box and out through the pressure valve and the first named pipe into the vat, and maintain a pressure above atmosphere during the movement of the stain, means for reversing the pump, for drawing the "stain from the box and directing it into the vat to form a vacuum during the reverse operation of the pump.

v2. In an apparatus for staining shingles and thelike a staining box for containing the shingles, a vat for containing the stain, a :pipe connecting the upper ends of the box with the vat andhaving a spring-pressed outlet valve located in the pipe, a pump, a pair kof pipes, one for connecting the pump tof'the lower end Vof `the boxv and the other for @sheeting the pump with 'the vat, the punip ope-ratingto draw 'the stain from the vata-nd r'ce't'ito the bX iild outr through the pressure valve and the first named pipe into the vat and maintain a pressure above atmosphere during the movement of the stain, means for reversing` the pump for drawing the stain from the box and directing` it into the Vat to form a vacuum (11111111153,` the reverse operation of the pump, a springpressed inlet valve connected to the top of the box for admitting` air when the vaouous condition reaches a predetermined degree While the pump is drawing the stain from the box.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this speccaton.

CHARLES A. LATIMER. 

